Batting fifth, Reimold immediately dropped to the ground and was face down for several minutes. Hushed fans at Charlotte Sports Park looked on as Orioles trainers tended to the 28-year-old Reimold.

Reimold then flipped over and stood up on his own power before he was carted off the field and taken to Peace River Hospital.

Cobb, who was making his first start of the spring, was visibly upset, watching over Reimold with Rays catcher Jose Molina when Reimold was on the ground.

“It’s probably the worst feeling you can have as a pitcher, seeing something like that and being the cause of a guy taking a step back in his career possibly,” Cobb said after pitching three scoreless innings. “It’s just something you never want to see on the baseball field, and when you’re the cause of it, it’s a feeling you can’t describe.”

Orioles starting pitcher Jake Arrietta said he believed the ball hit “a good amount of helmet” from his vantage point in the dugout.

“When he did stand up, (his face) looked a little swollen, but hopefully the helmet took the majority of the impact and it’s just a nice bruise,” he said. “Hopefully, the orbital bone and everything surrounding his eye and his cheekbone, remained intact. We’re all praying for him.”

Scott Beerer took Reimold’s place at first base and stayed in the game as a defensive replacement in right field. Starting right fielder Endy Chavez moved to left.

And from Roch’s Blog:

Orioles left fielder Nolan Reimold was hit on the left side of his face by a pitch from Rays starter Alex Cobb in the top of the first inning.

Reimold grabbed his head and fell to the ground. He laid on his stomach as head athletic trainer Richie Bancells and manager Buck Showalter rushed on the field.

Reimold stayed down for several minutes before finally sitting up. He stood up under his own power and didn’t appear to be bleeding, and he rode on the back of a cart to the clubhouse as fans applauded.

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Reimold update: Reimold was taken to Peace River Hospital. He’s conscious and alert. The ball definitely hit him on the left side of the face. We’ll know more after the game.

I’m not there in person, and the game isn’t on the radio; however, just reading the news is scary. Hopefully Nolan is all right, lucid and will not have any ill effects in the days to come.

One would think that Remiold will miss some time to recover and ensure no lingering issues.